NHL Canadian Corner – February 26, 2012.

Blake Wheeler coming into his own with Jets…Tomas Plekanec unhappy over Canadiens performance….Senators fall to Bruins…Leafs look bad in loss to Capitals….Flames blow lead, lose to Flyers….Coyotes beat Oilers…Little has changed since Canucks last faced Stars.

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS: Blake Wheeler scored twice in a losing cause as the Jets fell in a shootout to the St. Louis Blues. Wheeler has been hot of late, with 13 points in his last six games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Jets will need him to remain hot as they jockey for a playoff berth in the East.

Plekanec unhappy over Canadiens woeful performance.

LE JOURNAL DE MONTREAL: Canadiens forward Tomas Plekanec voiced his unhappiness over his, and the team’s, performance this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Plekanec’s offensive numbers are way down, largely because he’s been forced to play musical linemates this season.

CALGARY SUN: The Calgary Flames blew a 3-0 lead, losing 5-4 to the Philadelphia Flyers in a shootout, dropping them to 11th overall in the Western Conference.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: No word if GM Jay Feaster is taking back the threat he took back about shaking things up at the trade deadline.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored in his first game back in action since February 6, but it wasn’t enough as the Oilers fell 3-1 to the Phoenix Coyotes.

VANCOUVER PROVINCE: The Canucks prepared to face the Dallas Stars for the first time since February 19, 2011.

12 Comments

Ranzeir
on February 26, 2012 at 2:33 pm

Patrick Lalime now lives in Ottawa permanently and apparently has kept himself in game shape so he could or might be the answer for Ottawa as goalie insurance.

Jrd18
on February 26, 2012 at 2:59 pm

Unless Rick Nash is going to be the new coach and play left wing the leafs are done. They are making the same mistakes every night and then for the last 10-20 minutes decide to play. From Wilson’s comments after the game last night I think he knows he’s done. Trade kulimen, grabovski, MacArthur and Connolly (he is horrible just floats) bri gup colborne, kardi and Eakins. Also GET RID OF AULLAIRE.

corey
on February 26, 2012 at 3:44 pm

Aullaire has DESTROYED the leafs goaltending in making both small and too far back in the net, i hate how they play now. Reimer was great last year because he never had time to get his style changed. In the off season Aullaire took him to school and failed him… now everyone thinks its his fault… poor reims

habsolutely416
on February 26, 2012 at 3:55 pm

i have never been a huge fan of plekanec. he soft, tends to disappear at times (usually on the road) and tends to play on the outside. hes not a #1 center, makes a good #2 center and would be an exellent #3 center. if the habs can get a good return on him i say trade him now while his value is still there. i would have been happy if he went in a deal that brought back jeff carter but wont happen now. leblanc is going to take his place soon anyways.

SmielmaN
on February 26, 2012 at 4:22 pm

Lars Eller is a Pleks v.2.0 with improved size and possibly more skill. It’s funny to read that he isn’t happy. Yeah, I could tell when he took over a month off playing like a dickhead who didn’t care, taking stupid penalties, and slamming his stick around after every whistle. It was so weird to see him doing that. Here’s a guy who usually works his tail off like a professional all of a sudden acting like a big baby.

Just unload some dead weight and a contract or two. Secure that top 3 pick. Bring in some hard workers in the off season and a new coach who is passionate and holds his team accountable. I’m thinking Marc Crawford? He could work for a couple years before his message starts to get old. Bring carbonneau back as a asst, or bring in Boucher if the bolts fire him.

gravitymike
on February 26, 2012 at 4:47 pm

@smeilman I doubt TB will dump the best thing going for them, that would be Boucher. But I do think Crawford would be a great choice. And while you’re cleaning house, what’s your take on Gauthier, should he be let go before the draft?

I can’t believe I’m saying this, I hope the man upstairs isn’t listening (no not you Lyle) but since I’m hoping the Jets take the division, good luck against the Panthers today.

Uh-oh! A non-french Canadiens player is unhappy over the direction of the team? HE’S A BUM, TRADE HIM!!!!

lol

SmielmaN
on February 26, 2012 at 7:34 pm

GM- I think Gauthier is gone within a week of the season ending, hopefully replacement named same day or within a week (they’ve had long enough to think about it), then a coach brought in before the end of the playoffs. I only mention Boucher because Ive read elsewhere he may be let go. If he’s available then he should be brought in.
As for the Panthers well wishes… Lol. When I want my team to lose for draft positioning we get Bruins fans support. I got a couple good friends at work who are saying the same thing regarding the Jets. To be honest, I want the jets in badly just because it would awesome to watch and they are Canadian. My only or wish for the rest of the season is a 10th place finish by the leafs (where’s Durt?, jk buddy)
It doesn’t have to always be hate between us Habs/B’s fans lol. I almost burst into flames in my good friends Bruins game room and he almost melts inside my Canadiens game room, but the beer, whiskey, and scotch always taste the same at our bars :).

gravitymike
on February 26, 2012 at 7:54 pm

Good to hear. I like your take on replacing management. I also heard once that Boucher may be gone. My believe – not gonna happen. OK, so that Stamkos is pretty good too I guess.
Yup, that’s the way it is between rival fans.

SmielmaN
on February 26, 2012 at 8:27 pm

Montreal Gazette saying Pleks would waive his no trade, Pleks agent denying this. Other site (that doesn’t employ Eklund) indicating a new rumor being Oleks for Getzlaf… ?????? This deadline might get interesting.

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